This document provides a guide to improving energy and transport solutions in rural areas through renewable energy and publicly accessible transport. It discusses how rural communities can generate their own renewable energy through initiatives like community hydro schemes. This energy can then be used to power transport solutions like electric vehicle charging stations and public transport signs. Case studies show how total transport systems integrating different modes of transport, and community-run car sharing schemes powered by renewable energy can help address mobility challenges in remote populations by reducing distances traveled by car. The guide concludes that future rural transport will increasingly rely on renewable energy sources owned and operated at a local level, with public hubs connected by express services, funded by mechanisms like crowd-funding that encourage community participation.
3. GUIDE TO ENERGY AND
PUBLICLY-ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT IN
RURAL AREAS
MOTIVATION
The ‘Atlantic Arc Regions’ of Europe all share similar experiences of
geographical difficulties
remote populations
large distances between centres of population
problems keeping up with advances in technology
inter-modality issues
The REPUTE Guide explores
how the regions could learn from each other
keep up with the pace of development within larger, more populated,
regions
provides examples of innovative large-and small-scale transport
schemes from different regions
introduces the REPUTE pilot projects.
4. MODAL SPLIT
CARS BUSES &
COACHES
RAILWAYS POWERED
2-WHEELERS
TRAM &
METRO
80.5 9 7 2 1.5
Passenger transport in EU-27 in 2010
Passenger transport in EU27 in 2010 (%)
7. GUIDE TO ENERGY AND
PUBLICLY-ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT
IN RURAL AREAS
PROBLEM
The transport sector is the fastest growing source of GHG emissions.
People in rural areas typically travel 50% further than those in urban
areas-most by bus or car.
SOLUTION
Locally generated energy
Initiatives to connect people to rural public transport hubs through community-
run schemes
Shared ownership of transport resources and bespoke on-demand services.
This is known as Total Transport.
Transfer of best practice from cities
DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
These include community engagement, fund-raising at a local level, local
energy initiatives and policies
The introduction of cost-effective, energy-saving, technologies.
9. GUIDE TO ENERGY AND
PUBLICLY-ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT
IN RURAL AREAS
SUGGESTIONS AND DIRECTIONS
• Modal shift
• Socio-technical transitions
• Alternative and renewable energy
• Accessible and intelligent transport of
people and goods
• Financial considerations
CASE STUDIES OF GOOD PRACTICE
• Within the partners’ regions
• Outside the partners’ regions
• REPUTE pilot projects
CONCLUSIONS
SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
• Policy context
• Renewable energy in transport
• Intelligent transport systems
• Behaviour change and modal shift
CURRENT SITUATION IN THE PARTNERS’
ATLANTIC AREA REGIONS
• Regional descriptions
• Energy and transport
• Regional economics
• Social mobility in the Atlantic Arc area
REGIONAL MOBILITY CHALLENGES AND
INITIATIVES
• Rural issues, community and finance
• Transport context
• Rural transport schemes and projects
• Car clubs
• Energy context
10. ENERGY PERSPECTIVE
Vehicle type Pedelec Twike Renault
Twizy
Mitsbishi
iMiEV
Nissan
Leaf
Tesla S
Energy used
kWh/100km
(claimed)
0.5 5 6 11 12 20
(our data) 0.5 20 20-24 24-36
11. CURRENT SITUATION IN THE
PARTNERS’ REGIONS
Partner and Stakeholder Questionnaire April 2014
Energy sources
Urban density
Transport
availability
Vehicle
ownership
Cycle ways
Air quality
Economics
15. REGIONAL MOBILITY CHALLENGES
AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Issues
People living in rural areas travel ~50% further than their city
counterparts and a large proportion of their total mileage is made by car
or bus
Lack of access to public transport hubs
Lack of integration of different modes of transport
Lack of coherent local policy
Lack of real-time information
Total Transport solutions integrate transport services provided by
different agencies and operators, eg combining a local bus service
with hospital transport
21. TALYBONT ZERO ENERGY CARBON CAR
SHARE SCHEME (2011-)
Talybont is a small rural village in
South Wales
Talybont on Usk Energy Ltd runs
two vehicles:
• An electric van powered by the
group’s solar panels
• A car powered by bio-diesel
The vehicles are funded by the
Talybont Energy and Sustainable
Development Fund.
Talybont Energy earns ~30,000
Euro/year from its community
hydro-electric scheme
The project has twin environmental
aims of replacing fossil fuel miles with
zero carbon miles and encouraging
less cars on the road through car
sharing.
22. ECO TRAVEL NETWORK EV RENTAL,
BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK,
SOUTH WALES (2012-)
The Eco Travel Network runs an EV
rental and charging network for
tourists to the Brecon Beacons
national park.
7 Renault Twizys with 40 charging
points installed throughout the
national park at cafes, hotels and
shops.
The Eco Travel Network is run as a
not-for-profit organisation. They
obtained a 30,000 Euro Start up
Grant from the Brecon Beacons
National Park Sustainable
Development Fund. This was used
to cover set up costs and subsidise
the first set of vehicles. All costs in
future will be covered by members.
23. CASE STUDY -BIOFUEL
Biofuels derived from waste represent a promising alternative to fossil
fuels
Liquid biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) already meet around 3% of global
transport demand
Gaseous biofuels (biomethane or biogas) – second generation biofuels -
meet a much smaller demand currently, but they can also be used in road
transport applications
24. GENeco Bio-Bus, Bristol-Bath, UK
Bath-Bristol Airport commuter route
Biomethane, produced at the
Bristol Sewage Works at
Avonmouth, converts food waste
and human waste into biomethane
by the anaerobic digestion route
The 40-seater bus has a range of
300 km on a full tank which is
equivalent to the waste per year
from five people. These buses
produce approximately 30% less
greenhouse gases than their diesel
equivalents and improve the air
quality in city centres
Lille has over 10 years’ experience
of using biofuels in buses. There
are ~130 biogas buses currently.
27. REPUTE PILOT PROJECTS
Portugal
Renewable energy for publicly-
available cars (EV charging stations
powered by solar panels)
Scotland
Renewable energy for public transport
signs
Scotland
Saving energy using Personal Travel
Planning
28. SUMMARY
Future transport will use more energy derived from natural resources –
solar, wind, tidal, hydro, biomass, etc.
Renewable energy sources can be owned, operated and controlled in rural
areas through community actions and local partnerships. The energy
generated can be used directly or indirectly in local transport
Rural public transport hubs need to be built and connected by express
services to major destinations
Total transport solutions are required for rural communities where
pooling of resources and voluntary actions can provide a service
Financing mechanisms, such as crowd-funding and local share
schemes, can integrate community energy schemes with transport
solutions, providing a strong sense of local involvement
